Apparatus for atomizing metal



Feb 8, 1949-v` G. J. LE BRAssE ET Al. v 2,460,993

APPARATUS FOR ATOMIZING METAL Filed Feb. 6, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Patented Feb. 8, 1949 APPARATUS FOR ATOMIZING METAL Gordon J. Le Brasse,Ann Arbor, and Harold E.

Francis, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Federal- Mogul Corporation,Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application February 6, 194.6,Serial No. 645,946

This invention relates to apparatus for atomizing metal and has for itsprincipalA object the provision of an apparatus of this character bymeans of which metal may be atomized and theA production of an oxidecoating on the surface of the particles thus formed will be of a minimumvalue. Y

Objects of the invention include the provision of an apparatus foratomizing metal comprising a substantially closed container lled with anonoxidizing gas and in which a stream or spray of water is projectedinto which one or more streams of the metal to be atomized, -in moltenform, is introduced; the provision of apparatus of the type described inwhich a minimum amount of nonoxidizing or reducing gas or gases isrequired to maintain a non-oxidizing or reducing atmosphere in which theatomization of the metal occurs; the provision of apparatus of the typedescribed including means, in the path of flow of the stream or spray ofwater into which the molten metal is introduced, to aid in dissipatingthe force of such stream; the provision of apparatus of the typedescribed including means for separating out the various particles ofmetal atomizecl thereby in accordance with theirV size; the provision ofapparatus of the type described in which the operation of the apparatusmay be vcontinuous and the particles of atomized metal removed eithercontinuously or periodically without interrupting the operation thereofand the provision of apparatus of the type described that is simple inconstruction, efficient in operation, and economical to produce and touse.

The above being among the objects of the present invention, the sameconsisting of certain novel features of construction and combinations ofparts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, and then claimed, having the aboveand other objects in view. Y

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a suitable embodiment ofthe present invention and in which like numerals refer to like partsthroughout the several different views,

Fig 1 is a vertical sectional view taken centrally and longitudinallythrough a metal atomizing apparatus constructed in accordancewith thepresent invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical, transverse sectional view taken on the line2-2 ofFig. 1, Y

Fig. 3 is a vertical, transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 ofFig. 1,' and` Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken onthe line 4,-4 of Fig. v2, v

9 Claims. (Cl. 18-2.5)

While the apparatus of the present invention is of value in theatomization of any metal or metal alloy, it isv particularly useful rinthe carrying out of theinvention disclosed and claimed in our copendingapplications for Letters Patent of the United States for improvements inMethod of atomizing metal and for improvement in atomized metal,respectively, filed on even date herewith, and serially numbered 645,948and f; 645,947, respectively. The said copending appli- Suchatomizedparticles of copper-lead alloy find their principal use inconnection with the formation of sintered bearings for rotating shaftsand the like. When formed in accordance with conventional practice, thealloy isA melted and in the form of one or more fine streams isdischarged into a blast or spray of water simply directed and surroundedby air. The blast of air breaks up the fine streams vof molten metalinto fine particles and solidies vthem so that they produce a mass ofloose powder-like material. However, the short time that such particlesare exposed to the air in their molten state, as well as to the water,in accordance with conventional practices,

- is sucient to produce on each particle a coating consisting of one ormore of the oxides of lead. When tin is also an element of the alloy, atleast a partof the coating may -consist of tin oxide. Atomized particlesproduced in the conventional manner thus described will usually be foundto have an oxygen content, because of the oxide coating, in excess of1%, probably averaging about 1.2%. This means that for a given amount ofsuch atomized alloy, there is present an averagel of in the neighborhoodof 13% to 14% of the weight by the mass in the-form of an oxide coatingon the particles Where a powder -comprising such atomized particles oflead containing copper alloys is applied as a coating to a steel stripand passed through a sinstering furnace to cause the various particlesto adhere to one another and to the steel backing strip, as is aconventional practice in the formation of bearings, the amount of oxidepresent inthe conventionally formed powder is so great as to requirereduction of the oxide coating in the sintering furance, by the combinedapplication of heat and a reducing atmosphere, before a satisfactorybond can be obtained between the various particles and between theparticles and metal is carried on in a non-oxidizing or' in a reducingatmosphere, the production'off an oxide coating on the atomizedparticles is reducedto a desired extent, the amount ofoiiide'thusproduced being substantially limited to the amount of oxygenwhich the particles pick upsolely from the water spray. The amount ofoxide coating thus produced on such atomized particles will be so smallthat the oxygen content of a given mass 'of particles may beas low asapproximately 0.2%, and rarely; if ever, over 05%. Aslong as thefoxidecoatings on such particles clonot proivide an oxygen inclusion in a'massofsuch particles greater than the percentage last stated, asatisfactory bond between theiva'rious particles, and between suchparticles and the steelv strip may be obtained in a s'inter-in'g furnacewithout the necessity of further reducing the oxygen content of thevmass of powdered' metal, and thereforethe speed of the' sinteri'n'goperations may be substantially doubled over that where conventionallyyformed'- atoniized metal is; erm ployed as a powdered layer in themanufaotureoi bearings or the like',

However, the atomization of such molten rnetal must not only be'carriedon in a non-'oxidizing or in a reducing atmosphere to' obtain thedesired results, but in order toi be commercially practical, theoperation must be such that xc'es'- sive amounts of these non-oxidizingor reducing gases are not used up in the process. The present inventionprovides an apparatus whereby such atomization may be carriedon in anon-oxidizing or reducing atmosphere and by the' use of a minimum amountof 'non-oxidizing 'or reducing gas. vThis is accomplishedby carrying onthe atomizing operation Within a oontainer substantially sealedagainstthe admission o air into it, which container may be made ofrelativelysmall size and from which air has been displaced by anon-oxidizing or a reducing gas, small 'amounts of which are preferablycontinuously supplied thereto so as to maintain a pressure thereinslightly greater` than atmospheric pressure so as to positivelyeliminate the possibility of leakage of airthereinto As a result, theonly oxide coatine whichmar be ,found @niet Particles atomzd will becausedsubstantially solely from the oxygen drawn bylsuch particles whenin moltencondition from the Water employed in the 'atomization step,theamount of oxide formed thus beins kept at a minimum Itwillbeappreciated thatthe f ormof the apparatus ,constructed in accordancewith the present invention mayvary considerably in accordance withthe`desires of the particular designer without any particular diiference'inresult asjlong as the essentialfeatures'fof the invention are,Vincorporated therein: The apparatus shown in the accompanying drawingsillustrates one form of such apparatus which has been foundsatisfactory. l

Referringnow to theaccoxnpanying drawings, it will be noted that :theapparatus comprises generally a tank or container Si) in one end ofwhich and adjacent the top thereof is positioned one or more, here shownas a single nozzle l2, arranged to direct a stream or spray of watertherefrom preferably lengthwise of the tank as shown. It will beunderstood that the tank or container isei'tlie'ifclfosed" or isotherwiseA sealed against thele'akageof'air'thereinto. The nozzle i2 isconnected by a pipe such as i4 with a suitable source of water underpressure, such as the pump I6.- Preferably, the pipe I4 projects intothe container'i'ilthrc'ugh` a coverplate or manhole cover 4ST removablysecured and sealed to the correspending end` face`V of the tank orcontainer l over thlehol-e-ZG formed therein by means of bolts or screwssuch as 22,

Means areV also provided for introducing a suitable reducing ornonoxidizing gas such as nitrogen, hydrogen, helium, illuminating gas orthe like into the tank or container i8, and this maybe donein' anysuitable manner and'be obtaned'irom any suitablev source. In thedrawings, suchf gas is obtained from a conventional pressure'bottleRffromzwhichit is fed to the tank through'l a conventional reducingvalve or the like '25. In Fig. l, one tube 28 isfshownas extending fromthe reducing valve 26 through the coverplate i8; torwhich itl is sealed,into the interior ofthe tank or container lil-A where it Yconnectswith across pipe 3G disposed with its axis vertical and its opposite endsopen' for the escape of such gas into the interior of the tan-k orcontainer I0. A second pipe or tube 3-2 is also shown as extending fromthe reducing valve 26 through the cover I'S to which it is sealed andinto the interior of the nozzle i 2 where the @duction effect of thestream or spray of water dischargedgfrom the nozzle l2 aids in drawingthe gas into the tank or container I6 and diiusing it therein. Eitherone or both of these two means for introducing the non-oxidizing orreducing gases into the tank or container Il! may be employed, o r anyother suitable means for producing an equivalent result may be employedin place thereof.

The molten metal which is. to be atomized is introduced into the tank orcontainer lil preferably in the form of one or more relatively nestreams which are discharged into the stream or spray 34 of waterissuing from the nozzle I2, While any suitable means. may be providedfor effecting this result, theL apparatus shown provides the followingdescribed means, asA disclosed in Fig. l. The upper Wall 'of thetank orcontainer Hl is provided with a relatively short open ended cylindricaltube 36 which projects vertically threugh such wall and is rigidly fixedand sealed thereto 'as by welding or the like. The lower end of the'tube3S terminates in vertically spaced relationabove the vstream or lspray35., preferably a. substantial distance from the nozzle l2. A suitablecrucible 38 is removably-ra ceived, preferably 4in more or `less fittedrelation, inthe upper end offthe tube '36. The 'bottom wall of theCrucible -38 isV provided with one Aor more fine holes 4G lthrough whichmolten metal such as '42 introduced intothe-crucible 38, as for instancefrom -a ladle such `as M, may 'fflow 'in the form'of Viinestreams 146into stream-or spray 34. The stream or spray 34 may Xbe unconilned belowthe ftube 36 wh'erethemolten metal is `introduced into it. Ori-theotherhand, 'if desired, the Astream or -sprayjSll' 'at the point where themolten metal is fintroduce'd into `ii'fmay be con fined within an open'-'endedtube i138, as shown in Fig, 1, secured tothelowerend'of the-tube146' and into which the tube 46 opens. Where the tube 4B is notemployed, then it may be desirableL to provide a window such as 5l]directly over the stream or spray 34 on the downstream side of the tube35 so as to enable the character of the stream or spray 34 to bevisually inspected. The window 53 is, of course, sealed at its marginsto the tank or container in any suitable manner.

In order to permit the escape of air and lgas from the tank orcontainer, an inverted U-shaped' tube 52 is provided at'the rear endthereof with one leg thereof projecting through theupper wall of thetank as shown in Fig. 1. Preferably, the other leg of the U is projectedintoca body o f water such as 54 carried in an open Vtop container suchas 5S so as to provide a water'seal for preventing the leakage of airback into the tank or container Hi.' The rear wall of the tank orcontainer l0 is likewise provided with an'over iiow pipe 58 and, likethe pipe 52, in orderto prevent leakage of air therethrough into thetank or container i3, the pipe 58 is preferably provided with adownwardly extending end portion El! which' may be submerged in a bodyof water 52 in an open top container 64. In this connection, it will beappreciated that the water introduced as the stream or spray 34 willfall to the Ybottom of the tank, and the pipe 58 serves as an overflowfor such water and as a mea-ns for maintaining a constant level of waterin the bottom of the tank or container Ill. Preferably, a drainage pipe66 is provided leading into the bottom of the tank, shown at the rearend thereof in Fig. 1, and provided with'a shut-off valve G8 so that thetank' may'be drained of Water when necessary or desirable. Additionally,the rear end of the tank or container l0 is prefer-l ably provided witha hole of suicient size to permit a workman to crawl therethrough to theinterior of the tank or container l0 and this opening is normally closedand sealed by Vmeans of a removable cover 12. Y Y l The apparatus thusfar described is s uicient, in the broader aspects of the invention, forac-` complishing the broad purposes of the present invention, and insuch case,A its operation is as follows. The Crucible 38 is initiallyremoved and the top of the tube closed, preferably in a more or lessloose manner so as to permit the escape of air upwardly therethroughunder the pressure of the non-oxidizing or reducing gas employed. Thecontainers and 64 are filled with liquid. Reducing or non-oxidizing gasis thenintroducedA into the tank or containerV I 8 from the bottle 24,either through the pipe 28, the pipe 32, or both, and is allowed todischarge into the tank or container I8 at a sufficient rate of iiow andfor a suflicient length of time to insure thebulk of the air beingexpelled or flushed therefrom, after which the rate of iiow` isre` ducedto a point more fully explained later. An alternative method Vofflushing the air from the tank is to ll it with water to displace theair, and then drain out the desired amount of water and replace thedrained water with a non-oxidizing or reducing gas. In such case, afterthe water has been drained, the flow of such gas is continued at areduced rate. Thereupon, water is supplied to the nozzle l2 to form thestream or spray 34, whereupon the crucible 38 may be introduced into theupper end of `the tube 36, and molten metal introduced into the Crucibleso that it will be discharged in the small or ne streams 46 into thestream or spray 34. The .fine streams of molten metal in being engagedby tinued, vbut only atja relatively small rate.

6 the stream or spray 34 will be causedto be broken up'into iinelydivided particles, which are rapidly solidified, so"thatthey drop bygravity into the'bottom of the tank asa 'iinely divided loose powder oras extremely small particles. The -water employed in producing thestreamor spray is preierably'under a relatively high pressure so as to enhancethebreaking up of the ne streams 46 Vof molten metal intoextremely fineparticles. l()v A water'pressure of 150` pounds per square inch has beenfound suitable.

During the above-described operation, the supply vof. non-oxidizing orreducing gas from the bottle 24 into the tank or container l0 is con-'All that isnecessary is that a suicient amount of a non-oxidizing orreducing gas .beV introduced into the tank or container lll to maintainthe pressure therein slightly above atmospheric pressure so as toprevent any air on the outside ofthe tank or container from iindingitsway into the tank or container through .any cracks or aperturesthatmay not otherwise be sealed. However; the tank or container. l0 mayvreadily be sealed suf f ciently completely so that a very small amountof non-oxidizing or reducing gas is required to,

be continuously fed into the same. Thus, a very small-amount of such gasis used up during continued operation. e

The apparatus thus described may be operated until a desirable amount ofmetal has been atomizedand deposited in the bottom of the tank, uponwhich the flow of metal may be stopped, the gas and water turnedofi-valve 68 opened so asto drain the tank or container, andthen theclosure `12 removed and the atomized metal scraped or otherwise removedfrom the bottoni ofthe tank through the opening-,13. Wherev necessary ordesirable, such atomized metal may then be grade-d to different sizesadaptable for vdifferent uses.

`In actualV practice it is, of course, usually def sirable to provideAfeatures, l other thanv those above described as essential, forenhancing the efiiciency of the apparatus, to permit continuousoperation and for otherreasons. For instance, it has been found that iione or more` screens such as 14, suitably supported on the'interior .ofthe tank or container i3, are provided in the path of flow of the streamo r spray 34 downstream from the point where the metal is introduced',it will aid in dissipating the force of the flow'of water, which tends.to cause a turbulence of the '...ofwhich water mightvotherwise bepicked* up by the turbulent gas and be carried Yinto contact with thelbottom of the VCrucible, 38 where itmight freeze the metal 42 intheholes 40. Additionally',

y it is desirable, under some circumstances at least,

to provide some means whereby an initial sep. aration of the particlesintodierent'sizes may be accomplished in the tank .orcontainer l0.

For the last described purpose, the bottom of the tank or container I0and over the rearward portion thereof may be provided with a pluralityof `transverse troughs, which may be of any number desired but `showninthe drawings.' by way of illustration as three, namely 1B, 18 and`8l), with :in upwardly projecting baffle vor wall suchlasg, betweeneach, the baiiies 82 terminating below the level of the water within thetank or container ,l 0. When such an arrangement is employed, then somemeans such as Vthe downwardly extending T9 are-preferably suitablysealedV against leakage thereinfBetween the side walls of each trough, ascraper bladei H2 is xe'd to each rod H0. The scraper bladesV H2 extendtransversely of the length of the troughs 1S, 18 and 80 and each is ofla shape complementary to the cross sectional shape of the correspondingtrough, and preferably bears :against the converging bottom walls ofthecorresponding trough. It will be appreciated that .when rods "H areaxially'reciproc'ated either manually'or mechanically, they will becaused to travel longitudinally Vof their respective troughs 16, land 8Byand in being reciprocated willfscrap'e anydeposit 'of atomized metal insuch troughs out into the pockets I0, from which it may be readilymanually or otherwise. removed. Thus 'with the apparatus as thus fullydescribed and shown, continuous operation of the apparatus may becarried on.

To permit complete draining of the tank and troughs, it is necessary, inthe construction shown, toprovide drainage pipes H4 on the level of thebottom of each trough 16, 'I8v and B and in communication therewith,each of the pipes being provided with a shut-0H valve H6.

It will be appreciated that formal changes may be made in the speciiicembodiment of the invention described without departing from the spiritor substance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensuratewith the 'appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Metal atomizing apparatus comprising, in combination, a container,means for introducing a high velocity stream of water into the upperportion of `said container, means for introducing a Vstream of moltenlead into said high velocity stream of water, means for introducing anonoxidizing ngas into said container, means sealing said containeragainst the entrance of air thereto, means for maintaining apredetermined level of water in the bottom portion of said container,and perforate means in the path of ilow of said high velocity stream ofwater on the downstream side of the'point where said molten metal isintroduced thereinto and intermediate the ends of said container servingto dissipate the force of said high velocity stream of water.

2. Metal atomizing apparatus comprising, in combination, a container;means for introducing a high velocity stream of water into saidcontainer adjacent thetop thereof, means for introducingV a relativelyfine stream of molten metal into said high velocity stream of water,perforate baiile means in the path of flow of said high velocity streamof water on the downstream side of the point where said stream of moltenmetal is introduced thereinto and intermediate the ends of saidcontainer for directing the water of said high velocity stream and theparticles of metal broken up and solidified thereby to the bottom ofsaid tank, means -for maintainingga nonoxidizing atmosphere within saidtank, and means maintaining a level of water in the bottom of said tankserving as a water overflow means for said tank.

3. Metal -atomizing apparatus comprising, in combination, a relativelyelongated tank, means for introducing a high velocity stream of waterinto one end of said tank adjacent the top thereof and in a directionlongitudinally of said tank, means for introducing a relatively iinestream of molten metal into said stream of water, means for introducinga nonoxidizing gas into said container, means sealing said containeragainst the entrance of air thereto, water overiiow meansat that end ofsaid tank opposite that at which said stream Vof wateris introducedthereinto, baille means in said'. tank between 'the opposite endsthereof and in the path of flow of said'stream of watenand means forintroducing an additional stream of water into 'the lower portion ofsaid tank in the same direction as said stream of high velocity streamof water,l wherebyY to provide a .continuously iiowing stream of waterfrom one end of said tank toward the other end thereof.

A4. Metal atomizingr apparatus comprising, in combination,` a relativelyelongated tank., means for introducing a high Velocity stream of waterinto one end of said tank'adjacent the top thereof and in adirectionvlongitudinally ofsaid tank, means for introducing a relativelyfine stream of molten *metal` intosaid stream of water,v means forintroducing a nonoxidizing gas into said container, meanssealing .saidcontainer Yagainst the entrance of air thereto, water overflow means atthat end of saidtank opposite that at which said stream of water isintroduced thereinto, baffle means in said tank between the oppositeends thereof and in the path of flow of said'stream of water, means forintroducing an additional stream of waterinto the lower portion of saidtank in thesame direction assaid stream of high velocity streamofw'ater, whereby to provide a continuouslyv flowing stream of waterfrom one end of said tank toward the other end thereof, and meansdisposed transversely of the path of ow of said body' of watersupplementing the effects of gravity in separating out said particles ofmetal from'said body of Water. y 5.v Metal atomizing apparatuscomprising, in combination, a relatively elongated tank, means forintroducing a relatively high velocity stream of Water into one endofsaid tank adjacent the upper portionthereof and directed toward theVopposite end of said tank,ibaiiie means between the ends of said'tankIin the path of iiow of said high velocity stream of water serving tobreak up said stream and direct it toward the bottom of said tank, meansintermediate the first two mentioned means -jor introducing moltenmetalin a relatively fine ystream into said high j velocity stream of water,means for introducing a nonoxidizing gas into said tank, means sealingsaid tank against the entrance of air thereto, means including anoveriiow at theopposite end'of said tank for maintaining 4asubstantially constant water level therein, and means for introducing anadditionalf'stream of water into the iirst mentioned end of said tankproviding with said high velocity stream body oi"l water in the bottomportion of said container'iiowing from the rst mentioned end thereofvtoward said oppositeV end for the purposev of carrying particles ofmetal broken up by said high velocity stream in a rearward direction insaid tank. f i

6. Metal atomiz'ing apparatus comprising, in combination, a relativelyelongated tank, means for introducinga relativelyhigh velocity stream ofwater into one end of said tank adjacent ythe upper portion thereof anddirectedtoward the opposite end `of said'tank, baffle ,meansrbetween theends of said tankV in the path of flow of said high velocity stream ofwatervserving to break up said stream and direct it toward the bottom ofsaid tank, means intermediate the first two mentioned means forintroducing molten metal in a relatively fine stream into said highvelocity stream of Water, means for introducing a nonoxidizing gas intosaid tank, means sealing said .tank against the entrance of air thereto,means including an overflow at the opposite end of said tank formaintaining'a substantially constant water level therein, means-'forintroducing `an additional stream of 'water into the iirstmen tioned endof said tank providing with said high velocity stream a body of Water inthe bottom portion of said container lioWing from the'first mentionedend vthereof toward 'said opposite end for the purpose of carryingparticles of metal broken up by saidhigh velocity stream in 'a rearwarddirection in said tank, and a plurality of troughs in the Vbottom ofsaid tank extending transversely of the path of flow of said body ofWater therein serving to receive and retain said particles of metalcarried "bysaid body of Water. V'7. Metal atomiing apparatus comprising,`in cmbination, a relatively elongated tank, mean-s for introducing arelatively high velocity stream of water into one end of saidtankad'jacent the upper portion thereof and directed toward; theopposite end of said tank, baille means between the ends of Ysaid tankin the path of flow of said highveloc'ity stream of water serving tobreak up 'said Astream and direct it toward the Vbottom of said tank,means Vintermediate the first two mentioned vmeans for introducingmolten metal yin a relatively line Stream into said high velocity streamof Water, means for introducing anonoxidizing gas into said tank, meanssealing said tank against the Aer'itrance of air thereto, meansincluding an overiiow at the opposite end of said tank for maintaining asubstantially constant water level therein, means for introducing Vanadditional stream of water into the rs't inentioned end of said tank.providing with said high velocity stream a body'of water in the bottomportion of 'said container flowing from the rst 'mentioned end lthereoftoward said opposite end for the purpose of carrying particles of metalbroken up by said high velocity stream in a rearward direction in saidtank, a plurality of troughs in thev bottom of said tank extendingtransversely of the path of iioW of said bodyof Water therein serving toreceive and retain said particles of metal carried by said body ofwater, and means for agitating particles of said metal depositedin'saidtrough whereby to aid in eiecting a separation of vsaid. particles inaccordance with the size thereof.

8. Metal atomizing apparatus comprising, in combination, a relativelyelongated tank, means for introducing a relatively'high velocity streamof Water into one end of said tank'adja-cent the upper Yportion thereofand directed toward Ythe opposite end Aof said tank, `baille meansbetween the ends of said tank in the path of flow'of said fao highvelocity ystream of` Water serving tobreak up said stream and direct ittoward the bottom of said tank, means intermediate the iir'st twomentioned -means for introducing molten lmetal in a relatively finestream into said high velocity stream of watch-means for introducing anonoxidizing gas into said tank, means sealing said tank against theentrance of air thereto, means including an overilow at the 'oppositeend of sald tank for Vmaintaining a substantially constant WaterY leveltherein, means for introducing an additional streamfoi Waterinto therst'men- Vtioned end of said tank providing with said high velocitystream'a body of water in the bottom portion of said container Viiotvingfrom the -ilrst mentioned end thereof toward said vopposite end forthe'purpo'se of carrying Vparticles of metal y*broken up by saidhighvvelocity stream in a rearward direction in saiditank, a pluralityof troughs in the bottom of said tank .extending transversely of thepath kof 'f'owfo said body of Water therein lserving to'receiveqandretain'said particles of metal carried by 'said' body o'water, and 'baiemeansprojecting downwardly into said tank intermediate `the o'rward andrearward edges of each of said troughsfor deiiecting the How of saidbody of 'water to aid in the separation of said metal particlestherefrom.

9. Metal atomizing apparatus comprising, in combination, a relativelyelongated tank, means for introducing a relatively high velocity streamor" water into one end oi said tank vadjacent the upper portion thereofand directed toward the opposite end of vsaid tank, baie meansL betweenthe ends-'of said 'tank lin the path of now of said high velocity stream'of water serving to break up said 'stream' and direct it toward thebotten-lbf said tank, means intermediate the 'ii-rst two mentioned meansfor introducing molten metal in a Arelatively .'ne stream -into saidhighvelocity stream of water, a'screen interposed'in said path of Vflow vofsaid high velocityY stream -of Water on the 'downstream side of thepoint where said'molten1metal,is introduced thereinto thereby to aid indissipating the force of said stream of 'water before :it 'reaches' saidbaille means, k,means for introducing a nonoxidizing gas into 'saidtank, means sealing `said tank against the 'entrance-of air thereto,means including an overiiow'at the opposite end'of said tank lformaintaning'a substantially constant Watervlevel therein, and means forintroducing an additional! stream el? 'Waterinto the r'stmentionedend'of said 'tank providing with said high velocity stream a body ofWater in rvthe bottom portion 'of said container owing from thefirst-mentioned endthereof toward saidopposite end for the` purpose ofcarrying particles of 'metal broken up-by said high velocity lstream ina rearward `direction in said tank.

vGORDN J. LEBRASSE.

HAROIZD FRANCIS.

'REFERENCES CITED "The following referencesare of record `in lthe iileofV this patent:

UNITED erases `Parr'nrrfrs Number v-Bate

